Puttanna, Srinath steal the show
By Sharan Kumar

Mysore
August 13, 2003

Trainer Puttanna began the Mysore season with a bang,saddling three winners through Star View, Double Eagle and Jacques Cartier on Wednesday. Sharing the spotlight with him was Srinath who piloted these winners. While Star View obliged after an agonizing wait, Double Eagle showed amazing improvement and Jacques Cartier got his due reward for consistency. Srinath’s jockeyship also counted a lot in the victory of Jacques Cartier who had to stave off a stiff challenge from Sound Reasoning. The most impressive winner of the day however was Essex who put behind an intriguingly poor run in her last essay and won in the manner of a horse who could be expected to be a serious challenger in the classics. The daughter of Glory of Dancer was easily the most impressive winner of the day. Jockey Appu inched closer to the magical figure of 1000 winners by riding a brace of winners and he needs two more to join the elite 1000 Club.

Double Eagle showed vast improvement after an impressive win during the fag end of the Bangalore Summer Season but even the most optimistic supporters of the son of Classic Tale would not have bargained for such a runaway win. Darashah’s Crow Wood had the credentials to be a force to reckon with while Siberean, gelded and coming back after a bout of illness, appeared to be in need of this run. Crow Wood raced prominently in front but rounding the final bend, sent distress signals as he failed to quicken in appreciable manner. Siberean had the better of him but Double Eagle who came from the rear, picked up momentum and left the field for dead to record a glorious win. With Shroff not inclined to go all out on a beaten Siberean, Star of Nature who needs more ground to show his mettle managed to snatch the runner-up spot. Crow Wood was a faraway fourth. Such form fluctuations have often been the feature of Darashah wards.

Take the case of Essex who ran below her potential in her last run, frustrating the hopes of many who expected great things from her. Now assigned to jockey M Poirier, Essex was second in demand to Alphonso. Essex lacked early speed to take a favourable position but Poirier gradually improved the second favourite and was in striking position by taking the shortest way home. But he encountered traffic problems as he ran into a wall of tiring horses. He wisely switched him without wasting much time and the daughter of Glory of Dancer, despite traveling wide, sped away for an effortless win. She crossed the winning post in excess of nine lengths on a tight leash in a good timing of one minute 26.81 seconds. Alphonso would relish longer trips. 

Double Eagle ( Y S Srinath up) winner of the Independence Gold Cup being led by trainer B Puttanna

Essex (M Poirier up) winner of the Arkalgud Plate being led in by trainer Z Darashah.

Star View (Y S Srinath up) winner of the Welcome Plate being led in by trainer B Puttanna

Jockey Appu had a double for the day through Hey Hero and Triple Treasure. Magic Music was the betting rage despite the fact that the six-furlong trip was bound to prove too sharp for the daughter of Twist And Turn. Magic Music had barely managed to scrape through at Bangalore but race goers were not wise enough to keep away from her over an identical trip. Magic Music was backed to the exclusion of her rivals but she was easily out sprinted by Hey Hero who had the best credentials. Appu’s other winner came through Triple Treasure who won quite capably at the expense of Ideal Cut and Storm Seeker. Falconet received solid support in the betting ring though there was always a question mark about the gelding jumping off smartly from the gates. Falconet did jump well but those who thought that the race was won at that stage itself were in for a shock because the gelding never gave hope at any stage of the race. Harish who rode Falconet was fined Rs 1000 for dropping his hands well before the winning post. 

Jacques Cartier was the overwhelming favourite to win the 1400 metres Yeshwantpur Plate but Sound Reasoning too had her share of supporters. Srinath had Jacques Cartier in a favorable position and pushed the son of Don’t Forget Me ahead of the pack at around the final 350 metres. Sound Reasoning essayed a strong challenge but after a brief duel, the favourite got stronger close home and won with a measure of comfort. Srinath had earlier in the day booted home Star View who had been a cause of frustration many a time during his career in the last one-year.

Irishman Mark Gallagher’s power-packed finish enabled It’s Amazing to win from a difficult position. Favourite Hamilton appeared to have stolen the race inside the final furlong, with It’s Amazing having to do a lot to catch up with the front-runner. Gallagher, who is one of the most aggressive riders in the home stretch, persevered with It’s Amazing who got up in time to edge out Hamilton in the shadow of the post. Earlier in the day, Gallagher’s sustained efforts could fetch favourite Olden Times only the runner up spot. Even as Olden Times and Track Fantasy were disputing for supremacy, Small Fry who was none too well placed on turning for home, came through the middle, picked up speed to sail pas the front-running duo to win with a great deal of comfort.